Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services
Chapter 3
1) the tables of cruising levels in Appendix 3 of Annex 2, or
Note.— Details of current separation minima prescribed by ICAO are contained in the PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) and Part 1 of the Regional Supplementary Procedures (Doc 7030).
2) a modified table of cruising levels, when so prescribed in accordance with Appendix 3 of Annex 2 for flight above FL 410,
b) the selection of separation minima shall be made in consultation between the appropriate ATS authorities responsible for the provision of air traffic services in neighbouring airspace when:
except that the correlation of levels to track as prescribed therein shall not apply whenever otherwise indicated in appropriate aeronautical information publications or air traffic control clearances;
1) traffic will pass from one into the other of the neighbouring airspaces;
Note.— Guidance material relating to vertical separation is contained in the Manual on Implementation of a 300 m (1 000 ft) Vertical Separation Minimum Between FL 290 and FL 410 Inclusive (Doc 9574).
2) routes are closer to the common boundary of the neighbouring airspaces than the separation minima applicable in the circumstances. Note.— The purpose of this provision is to ensure, in the first case, compatibility on both sides of the line of transfer of traffic, and, in the other case, adequate separation between aircraft operating on both sides of the common boundary.
b) horizontal separation, obtained by providing: 1) longitudinal separation, by maintaining an interval between aircraft operating along the same, converging or reciprocal tracks, expressed in time or distance; or
3.4.2 Details of the selected separation minima and of their areas of application shall be notified:
2) lateral separation, by maintaining aircraft on different routes or in different geographical areas;
a) to the ATS units concerned; and b) to pilots and operators through aeronautical information publications, where separation is based on the use by aircraft of specified navigation aids or specified navigation techniques.
c) composite separation, consisting of a combination of vertical separation and one of the other forms of separation contained in b) above, using minima for each which may be lower than, but not less than half of, those used for each of the combined elements when applied individually. Composite separation shall only be applied on the basis of regional air navigation agreements.
3.5 Responsibility for control
Note.— Guidance material relating to the implementation of composite lateral/vertical separation is contained in the Air Traffic Services Planning Manual (Doc 9426).
3.5.1
Responsibility for control of individual flights
A controlled flight shall be under the control of only one air traffic control unit at any given time. 3.4
Separation minima
3.5.2 Responsibility for control within a given block of airspace
3.4.1 The selection of separation minima for application within a given portion of airspace shall be as follows:
Responsibility for the control of all aircraft operating within a given block of airspace shall be vested in a single air traffic control unit. However, control of an aircraft or groups of aircraft may be delegated to other air traffic control units provided that coordination between all air traffic control units concerned is assured.
a) the separation minima shall be selected from those prescribed by the provisions of the PANS-ATM and the Regional Supplementary Procedures as applicable under the prevailing circumstances except that, where types of aids are used or circumstances prevail which are not covered by current ICAO provisions, other separation minima shall be established as necessary by:
3.6 Transfer of responsibility for control 1) the appropriate ATS authority, following consultation with operators, for routes or portions of routes contained within the sovereign airspace of a State;
3.6.1 Place or time of transfer
2) regional air navigation agreements for routes or portions of routes contained within airspace over the high seas or over areas of undetermined sovereignty.
The responsibility for the control of an aircraft shall be transferred from one air traffic control unit to another as follows:
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